W Fort Lauderdale Debuts New Look with Drone Race

In case you’ve missed it, drone racing has apparently become the next “big thing.”

Some experts are even calling it a professional sport. Not convinced? According to UAV Expert News, the top drone pilot, Luke Bannister is earning up to six figures (and beyond) per year in prize money and sponsorships.

Presumably one of the secrets of success for a popular drone race would have to be an excellent setting with stunning views. Some crazy obstacles probably help add to the nail-biting good time as you follow your favorite pilot.

Which seemingly makes the beach in Fort Lauderdale, or specifically the newly renovated W Fort Lauderdale the ideal setting for such a race.

After completing its $55 million redo, the 517-room property turned to Emmy-nominated digital media brand What's Trending and drone company Expert Drones to develop the all-new W Hotels Drone Dash.

In what the hotel is calling a “brand first,” the event showcased the hotel’s new look, inside and out, by charting a course throughout the 27-floor property.

Once the race was underway, drone-captured images were splashed onto W’s social media channels. The race was broadcast live to millions of followers on Facebook in partnership with M Live, Marriott’s Global Marketing Command Center, according to resort officials.

On hand to navigate the course, which required expert hands to reach top speeds while also not smashing into onlookers, were nationally ranked pilots Thomas Wilke, Chase Waddle, Cody Wright and Chet Jones. The results netted some pretty snazzy views around the beachfront property.

The race was narrated by What’s Trending’s Shira Lazar, who was listed among Fast Company’s “Most Influential Women in Technology” and Expert Drones’ Joyce Wicker. Jointly, the duo provided viewers with race updates while also chronicling the highlights of property’s recent renovation.

The event also included live interviews with the hotel staff and drone captains and showcased some of the available services, including mixologists at work.

If you missed it, you can still watch the live stream below or by clicking on the W Hotels Facebook page.

The winning drone pilot was even delivered—via drone, of course—a signature hotel cocktail called The Troublemaker, which is made with vodka, Bonal, strawberries, cucumbers and club soda.

This is not the first foray into drones for the W brand. In Bali, guests of the W Bali – Seminyak who book one of three itineraries available in the resort’s “Escape Plans,” will receive custom drone-captured footage and photography from their stay.

Travelers who missed the Ft. Lauderdale drone dash relay can still take advantage of special drone discounts of 20 percent off the best available rates through December 24, 2017.

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